'Spider' in court for West robberies

Charged with rape, escaping prison

NO BAIL: Keon "Spider" Fernando arrives at the Port of Spain Magistrates' Court yesterday to face charges of house-breaking and robbery in the Glencoe, Westmoorings and Diego Martin areas. –Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK

(BI) Feedloader User

THE man accused of several house-breakings and robberies in the Glencoe, Westmoorings and Diego Martin areas recently made his appearance before a Port of Spain Magistrate yesterday on nine criminal charges.

Additionally, Keon "Spider" Fernando, 27, was brought to court on 17 warrants after he failed to appear in court on several occasions earlier this year.

Fernando appeared before Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor in the Fifth Court charged with robbing his alleged victims of over $120,000 worth of cash, jewelry, cellphones and electronics among other items.

He is also charged with escaping from the Port of Spain prison along Frederick Street on June 14.

Fernando was brought to the courthouse by officers of the Western Division Task Force around 1 p.m., and appeared before Baboolal-Gafoor shortly before 3 p.m.

Upon his appearance, Fernando, who lives in Cocorite, was not called upon to plead to any of the charges as they were all laid indictably.

Throughout the appearance he remained handcuffed and surrounded by several police officers. He was also unrepresented by an attorney.

It is alleged that between September 22 and October 16, he broke into three houses at Sunset Drive, Westmoorings, La Horquette Road, Glencoe and Victoria Gardens, Diego Martin and robbed the occupants.

He is also accused of maliciously wounding a woman during one of the alleged robberies and raping two others following his alleged escape from prison.

After the reading of the charges, police prosecutor Sgt Wayne Mohammed said the prosecution was objecting to bail given the seriousness of the offences and that Fernando also allegedly escaped from prison.

The new charges also brought against him showed that he was likely to commit further offences if granted bail, said Mohammed.

Baboolal-Gafoor said she was in agreement with Mohammed's submissions before remanding Fernando in custody at the Port of Spain prison.

The magistrate said it was her belief that if bail was granted, Fernando would not attend court whenever required to do so.

He was arrested close to the Fish Depot in Cocorite during a sting operation last week Wednesday by officers of the Western Division led by Snr Supt Ishmael David and Insp Henry Dann.

He will appear in the Fourth (B) Court this morning on the 17 warrants, while on the other charges, he will reappear in court on December 5.